“In the rhythm of the year, Mabon is a time of rest and celebration, after the hard work of gathering the crops. Warm autumn days are followed by chill nights, as the Old Sun God returns to the embrace of the Goddess.” – The White Goddess

Ah, Autumn/Mabon (as the Pagans called it)! As we hone our eco-spiritual sensibilities, we converge once again to celebrate the passage from one season to another. Our ancient ancestors always honoured these processions of Nature, the majestic moves of the Mother, as they keenly knew that we too are Nature. We have exiled ourselves somewhat in the techno-worlds of cities where most connection to Earth is numbed and even fully forgotten and so these honourings, as our ancestors revealed, are wise ways to connect again and remember the essence of indigenous identity: that we are children of the Earth & Stars.

It bears goodness to take some time to contemplate on this passage to Autumn and to situate oneself in the context of Earthiness so that we may also find the sweetness of dancing as the Earth does in these ever-transforming cycles and symbolic syrups that nourish not merely the mind but too the light of the Soul.

The Autumn marks the end of Summer and so we salute the Sun on this occasion, extending gratitude for the ferocious radiance of Summer that found the solar power teeming, blessing our days with warmth and bastions of luminosity, while also nurturing the plants and crops to this pinnacle of Harvest where we reap what we have sown from the seasons of growing.“Mabon is considered a time of the Mysteries. It is a time to honor Aging Deities and the Spirit World. Considered a time of balance, it is when we stop and relax and enjoy the fruits of our personal harvests, whether they be from toiling in our gardens, working at our jobs, raising our families, or just coping with the hussle-bussle of everyday life.” Akasha Ap Emrys

Mystery and darkness are synonymous and so Autumn is the commencing of the procession toward the dark, which shall find its fullness in the void of Winter. With darkness as well comes the chilling air, crisp scents of dying leaves, as the Sun turns to embrace Goddess/Source, to be renewed evermore. ‘The holy darkness’, as Welsh poet Dylan Thomas called it, invites us into mystery, where we surrender our bearings to the excitement of enigma, as the spirit world too is ushered close to ours, reaching its most powerful interweaving on the day known as Hallowe’en and the festival of Samhain to the ancient ones.

Autumn is a time of mysticism, for longer nights and longer darkness invite us to connect more to what is unknown; what shadows we need to find dances with and inner-conflicts no more; to honour the ancestors and open one’s self up to messages from the spirit worlds.

The ancient Druids of Celtic lore called this day Alban Elfed or “Light of the Water”, marking the end of the harvest-time and a time to give thanks to the Mother Goddess for the fruits of Her Earth and her relentless munificence that, despite our neglect and even abuse, continues to come forth to nourish us. Indeed, it is a time to celebrate the spark in water that yields life itself. With such spirit, the Great Mother typifies the ultimate sacrifice and passion of Love that gives unconditionally. No matter the ways of Her children, She is ever-there, arms held in embrace whenever we decide to go to Her despite all of our erroneous conduct. Even the most monstrous are melted by Her mercy!

​Harvest time counsels us not to be downtrodden by the failures of growing but to seek out the rare jewels of evolution that we have mustered, perhaps hidden to us because of the arduous adversity we’ve had to endure. But in our endurance, even if beaten down by circumstances and destitute in cynicism, we are growing wisdom. With the Lunar Cycle of Virgo begun by the recent New Moon, we are asked to care deeply for ourselves as our shadows are revealed, so that love may rouse us into learning rather than despondence. Calling on the galactic grace of the Great Mother Goddess is recommended oftentimes, enough until we feel once again the divinity of our childness in the arms of the sacred. For this existence can be so trying and we all are suffering in our own ways. There’s much hope in the helping of each other, by the deep well of our empathy, that calls forth the good spirit of our humanity.

AUTUMN EQUINOX SACRED PRACTICE & PRAYER

Create a ritual space by the lighting of a candle and perhaps the lighting of incense, sage, smudge. Give yourself a good amount of time to be open to spiritual guidance.

Connect to the breath and energetically visualize yourself as glowing with light. Feel your light connecting you to the greater energies of our world and the spirit worlds.

When you are rooted and peaceful, consider five things that you have harvested in your life perhaps from the Summer or beyond. Be grateful and revel in these five things of glory that have blossomed in your life. Imagine holding them close to your heart as sacred nourishment for your soul. Be open to any symbols, images or wisdom about your harvest. Fill yourself with loving appreciation of the blessings of your life.

Play this most sacred and ancient song of devotion for Goddess and lie down: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMzOCQsJrH8. Imagine yourself glowing once again with light and merging with the living light of Mother Earth, what the ancients called the Soul of the Goddess that pervades all space in this world. Allow yourself to be held by the arms of Goddess as you consider your shadowy aspects, your sufferings and wounds.

Autumn is the time of letting go so consider as you are held in Mother’s arms what is that you wish to let go. Perhaps it is old pain, ancient suffering of your lineage, and present habits/addictions in which they are manifesting. Let go by giving your pain to Mother who loves you eternally.

Allow yourself to be fully open to receiving Her wisdom in the ‘whispers of the Heart’. Calm the mind and listen.

Give a final thanks to Goddess and your own holy self by placing one hand over the other upon your chest. Smile. Feel no matter what you are loved by Her.